UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

International General Certificate of Secondary Education

MARK SCHEME for the October/November 2006 question paper

0420 COMPUTER STUDIES

0420/01 Paper 1, maximum raw mark 100

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and students, to indicate the requirements of the examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners meeting before marking began. All Examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected approaches in candidates scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant knowledge and skills demonstrated. Mark schemes must be read in conjunction with the question papers and the report on the examination. The grade thresholds for various grades are published in the report on the examination for most IGCSE, GCE Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level syllabuses.

CIE will not enter into discussions or correspondence in connection with these mark schemes.

CIE is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2006 question papers for most IGCSE, GCE Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level syllabuses and some Ordinary Level syllabuses.

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

(a)

Verification any two points from: check on input for errors on screen checking/checked by human comparing input/use of second operator/by double entry examples: password entry, email entry [2]

(b)

Video conferencing any two from: meeting between two or more participants (at different sites) using computer network/WAN/Internet to transmit/receive audio and video data each participant has a video camera/webcam/microphone/speaker images appear in real time (on a window on the participants monitor) [2]

(c)

Handshaking any two from: exchange of signals/protocols to establish communication/readiness (to send and receive) between two devices/computers examples: printer and computer, modem and computer [2]

(d)

Simulation any two from: studying the behaviour of a system by using a model/represents real life/mathematical representation results can be predicted examples: flight simulator, hazardous applications, training [2]

(e)

Batch processing any two points from: processing does not start until all data collected reference to JCL no need for user interaction output is not time sensitive examples: payroll system, electricity/gas/water (etc.) billing, cheque processing
[2]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

(1 mark per device and 1 mark per application) e.g. application device use of bar code readers use of mark sense readers/ OMR use of touch screens use of sensors cameras MICR microphones magnetic strip reader stock control, libraries marking multiple-choice papers, reading questionnaires choosing goods online control applications (e.g. power stations, traffic lights, chemical reactions, counting people) traffic control/speeding, security cheques games, telephone system, security reading credit/debit cards etc.

(need two different devices and applications) (accept keyboards if application is appropriate) [4]

(a)

Any two from: Illegal/unauthorised copying of software/data / software piracy sending viruses hacking into systems/access illegally fraud/improper transfer of funds (industrial) sabotage/malicious damage altering information illegally [2]

(b)

Any two from: data encryption use of passwords/ids/PIN/biometric software physical locks use of anti-virus software log users/computer use/timed access anti-hacking software use call back facility for in-coming information take/check references of potential staff firewall [2]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

Any three effects from: loss of jobs traditional shops/banks close city/town centres become deserted as shops/banks close gap between rich and poor grows (rich get access to savings by shopping online) less interaction between people increase in small businesses less pollution/less need to travel security fears people will need credit cards/bank accounts/computer systems [3]

Any two from: animation editing e.g. changing colours on film tweening synchronising voice output with cartoon characters addition of text e.g. subtitles special effects e.g. morphing [2]

Any four from: design data collection forms design input forms design system flowcharts/pseudocode design output forms/reports design/select validation rules design/select verification methods design testing strategy/plan specify/select hardware specify/select software design the algorithms/program flowcharts specify the data structure design files (structure)/tables [4]

(a)

Any three from: answers questions asked by the system possible answers supplied as.. .rule base is looked up .knowledge base is searched .by inference engine e.g. minerals/map of mineral deposits/% probability of finding mineral [3]
UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

(b)

Any one from e.g. chess medical diagnosis car/fault diagnostics criminology/forensic science careers tax/financial calculations weather forecasting [1]

(a)

Any two from: work can be done anywhere (at offices in different countries) quicker transfer of files to other offices employ fewer staff (**) less chance of paper/file loss less paperwork (therefore less storage requirement) can open up files from any computer terminal linked to system easier/quicker to search for/sort a given file easier/quicker to cross reference files easier/quicker to insert/reference sections of files into reports [2]

(b)

Any two from: training/need for new skills possible unemployment(**) possible working from home deskilling health effects [2]

(**) only allow this answer in (a) OR (b) not both

(c)

(i) Always have a fall-back system in case of failure/problems results from new system can be checked against known results errors corrected before final implementation [1]

(ii) Control systems e.g. control of power station control of chemical plant traffic lights [1]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

(a)

error 1: product = 0 on line 2 should use product = 1 error 2: loop control, count <= 10 on line 3 should use count < 10 or alternatively alter count value on line 1 to count = 1 error 3: print value of product inside loop on line 7 output should come after the endwhile statement [3]

(b)

Accept either of the following loop controls: repeat OR until count = 10 (accept repeat until count > 11 if line 1 changed to count = 1) [1] next count for count = 1 to 10

10

LEFT 6 DOWN 5 CLOSE UP 5 RIGHT 4 DOWN 4 OPEN

} } } } } } }

1 mark

1 mark

1 mark [3]

11

(a)

(column) A or Name [1]

(b)

e.g. = AVERAGE(C2:F2) or =(C2+D2+E2+F2)/4 or =SUM(C2:F2)/4 [1]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 Highlight all data (1) Choose column E to sort (1) OR Click on any cell in column E(1) select sort descending/Z to A button(1)

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

(c)

[2]

(d)

PASS [1]

(e)

Range check OR description [1]

(f)

Any one from: graphs/charts [1]

12

(a)

Any two input devices from: touch screens/light pens roller/tracker ball/mouse/joystick microphone touch pads (containing options shown on keys) [2]

(b)

Any two examples from: maps/directions prices of goods/shop products flight details bank statements/bills travel offers news updates emails/messages [2]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 Any one advantage from: airport can advertise services/products 24/7 service airport can get revenue from other advertisers airport can give security information/warnings less staff needed for information desks quicker response to customer enquiries

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

(c)

Any one disadvantage from: (cost of) maintenance central computer might crash/over-reliance hacking viruses [2]

13 (a)

Any two points from: 3D visual world created by a computer computer simulation uses special input/output devices to interact [2]

(b)

Any two examples from: (data) gloves (data) goggles/headsets special suits fitted with sensor hardware/motors to provide physical movement [2]

(c)

Any two advantages from: safer (e.g. view inside a nuclear reactor) can try out a dangerous task beforehand feeling of being there can perform actual tasks without any risk ability to store a whole plant on computer disks cheaper (if qualified) [2]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 Any one example from: medical field training/teaching investigating problems in nuclear/chemical plants 3D/arcade games simulators e.g. flight walk throughs e.g. virtual tour of house

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

(d)

[1]

14

Any three benefits from: split into small, more manageable tasks/modules easier to debug/test easier to modify/update leads to a structured approach many programmers can be used/different programmers per module [3]

15

(a)

Any two advantages from: portable can be used anywhere in school to link to wireless network can be used as a standalone computer away from school

[2]

(b)

Any two disadvantages from e.g. usually more expensive to purchase/repair difficult to use laptop keyboard/in-built mouse laptops need re-charging from time to time laptops more likely to be stolen/damaged [2]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

16

(a)

(i)

Any one use from: recording sales keeping accounts keeping registers use as a mark book

(ii)

Any one use from: keeping client details storing course details keeping book lists

(iii)

Any one use from: designing/producing flyers designing/producing leaflets designing/producing presentations designing/producing materials for websites application forms

(iv)

Any one use from: website design multimedia material training material remedial lessons interactive material (creates hypertext/hypermedia documentation) [4]

(b)

Any two features from: reduce font size reduce side margins/top-bottom margins use smaller font size/remove any bold text reduce size of any pictures/graphs reduce line spacing use a larger page size / fit/scale to paper size edit text [2]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

17

Award marks as shown START

Read next bar code

No

2 Has bar code been found in file

Output an error message

Manually key in bar code number

(1 mark)

Yes Yes

Has bar code been found?

3 Look up the price on file (1 mark)

No

(1 mark)

(3 and 7 can be interchanged)

4 Output error report

7 Update stock file

6 Reject item
Yes

1 Any more bar codes to read

(1 mark)

No

[5]

5 Output itemised bill (1 mark)

END

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

18

(a)

(i)

Reg No

(ii)

unique identifier used to search the database used to link to other tables of data (foreign data) [2]

(b)

WS 46 ART NK 55 ARM [2]

(c)

Either (Engine (cc) > 1400) OR (Doors < 5) Or (Doors < 5) OR (Engine (cc) > 1400)

<---- 1 mark ----><------ 1 mark ------> [2]

(d)

Any one from: customer code customer ref no (NOT customer name) [1]

19

(a)

Any one from: pressure infrared [1]

(b)

Any one from: sensor signal is analogue computers can only understand digital [1]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 Any three points from: number of cars in both directions are totalled computer compares this total .. .. with values stored in memory/simulation results changes lights/takes action if necessary if no data received, default timing is used

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

(c)

[3]

(d)

Any one point from: all lights change to red/amber lights flash automatic timing sequence [1]

20

Sample program: count = 0 total1 = 0 total2 = 0 lowest = 1000 while count < 200 do input temp if temp < 10 then total1 = total1+1 if temp > 20 then total2 = total2+1 if temp < lowest then lowest = temp count = count + 1 endwhile output total1, total2, lowest

1 mark 1 mark 1 mark 1 mark 1 mark 1 mark

1 mark

(max of 5 marks)

Marking points: Initialisation (but lowest must be set to a suitable value) Correct loop to read in 200 temperatures Correct input for temperatures Check if temperature is less than 10 and increment total1 Check if temperature greater than 20 and increment total2 Identifying the lowest temperature Output results (only give output mark if some data processing has been done, and outside loop) [5]

UCLES 2006

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Mark Scheme IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006

Syllabus 0420

Paper 1

UCLES 2006